19 Feb
1999
19 Feb
'99
3:56 a.m.
At 10:33 PM 2/18/99 -0800, you wrote:
On Thu, 18 Feb 1999, Stan Perkins wrote:
I don't think it's due to the belts. I've had DEC tapes and others with
broken bands that didn't cause the media to flake off. Only the HP tapes
have the flaking problem AFIK. I have a bunch of new HP tapes that have
good bands but some of them still have the flaking problem. It just seems
to be characteristic of HP tapes.
Joe
The DC-100 cartridges are not preformatted, and will work in the HP-85,
9815, 9825, etc. The 9144 (and 9145) require a preformatted DC-600 style
cartridge. The 9142 can format a blank DC-600 cartridge, but the format
is not compatible with the 9144/9145.
One caveat on buying used DC-100 tapes: when the tapes are stored for a
long time and not regularly wound and rewound, the "rubber band" inside
the cartridge (that actually moves the tape) can damage the oxide and
cause it to lift from the tape backing. Usually the oxide comes off the
BOT area of the cartridge, and not only does this remove the directory
area, but the now transparent area of the tape confuses the EOT sensors
and makes the tape totally unusable. Probably 90% or more of the HP-85
and HP 9825 tapes I've found at swap meets are damaged in this manner.
Even tapes that have never been used and are still shrink wrapped may be
damaged in this way if they're old enough.
Stan, how can that happen? Every cartridge tape that I have run across -
from DC-100 to DC-2120 and beyond - is spooled such that the oxide face is
towards the hub of the spool and NEVER comes in contact with the drive
band. I have had tape layers stick together from old age and lack of use,
and certainly broken drive bands, but...
- don